Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Panasonic Holdings Corp , which manufactures batteries for Tesla, is nearing a decision on where state in...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - Panasonic Holdings Corp, which manufactures batteries for Tesla, is nearing a decision on where state in the United States it will locate a new battery plant, according to a top executive.
Panasonic Energy Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Tadanobu told reporters at a round table event, "We've been making numerous considerations, but we're starting to finalize." He noted that no decision had been made yet.
According to two people familiar with the proposal, the Japanese giant is looking at potential production sites in Kansas and Oklahoma to deliver the batteries to the American electric automaker's plant in Texas.
On Wednesday, Tadanobu informed investors and analysts that the company has sent Tesla samples of its more powerful '4680' format electric car battery.
The 4680 format battery - 46 millimetres in width and 80 millimetres in height - is nearly five times larger than those now supplied by Panasonic, implying that the American electric manufacturer may be able to reduce production costs while increasing vehicle range.
Panasonic plans to start mass manufacturing of the new battery in Wakayama, western Japan, by the end of March 2024, before moving production to North America.
According to two people familiar with the proposal, Panasonic is looking at potential factory sites in Kansas and Oklahoma to supply the batteries to the U.S. electric automaker's plant in Texas.
For more than a decade, Panasonic has been a collaborator with Tesla, supplying batteries for the company's first automobiles.
Since then, the electric carmaker has expanded its supply chain by bringing in companies like China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL) and LG Energy Solution from South Korea.
